Ryder and Kaberle to Test Free Agency

The Boston Bruins will let defenseman Tomas Kaberle and forward Michael Ryder hit the unrestricted free-agent market Friday at noon ET when the free agency begins, general manager Peter Chiarelli said Thursday. But he stressed that doesn’t mean that either player’s time with the Bruins is over.“We certainly haven’t parted ways,” Chiarelli said. “I’m weary of the market as it stands now so I said ‘Look guys, go out there and see what’s going on and we’ll continue to talk.’ The risk that we run is that they’ll get a deal and they can’t come back to us and I understand that risk. That’s where those two guys stand.” (ESPN.com/boston)

There were roughly three or four big names that had a chance to leave the Stanley Cup Champion Bruins. Mark Recchi, Michael Ryder, Shane Hnidy and Tomas Kaberle. Recchi went out on top and retired. The “sheriff,” Shane Hnidy, will most certainly not be back in a Bruins uniform next season. That left winger Michael Ryder and defenseman Tomas Kaberle. So the question is,will they go somewhere, or will they be back in Boston for at least another season?

A lot of people had been calling for Ryder’s head throughout the year. However, Ryder slienced the critics with his play in the playoffs. I like Ryder, he has an unreal shot, a quick release, and he can snipe like Mark Wahlberg in the film “Shooter.” I understand that he may have “underperformed” during the regular season, but he had some big goals in the playoffs, especially against his former team Montreal. He also had one of the coolest plays that I have ever seen in hockey against the Canadiens: While Thomas was out getting a hot dog, Ryder made a sick glove save, saving a goal for the B’s.

Tomas Kaberle, we hardly knew ye. When we picked him up I said, “this guy is going to help out so much, it might make my head spin.” Well, that isn’t entirely accurate. Kaberle had a strong reputation before he came over to Boston. Everyone figured this guy would be putting up points and improving the powerplay. The only thing this guy improved was showing Andrew Ference how to grow a nice French painter’s mustache. I say thanks, but no thanks, Tomas.